This blog was created for Niles Animal Hospital & Bird Medical Center by Peter S. Sakas DVM in an effort to provide information & discussion about animal related issues. It may move into some eccentric directions on occasion if the mood strikes me as I get more comfortable in this form of communication. I am open to suggestions & comments about the blog. Also view our hospital website www.nilesanimalhospital.com or Facebook page Niles Animal Hospital and Bird Medical Center.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Dogs we understand. Cats are mysterious, even though they are the most popular pet

By John Bradshaw,
Published: October 14

Cats are the world’s most popular pets,
outnumbering dogs by as many as three to one. This popularity is
undoubtedly helped by the fact that cats are simultaneously affectionate
and self-reliant: They need virtually no training; they groom
themselves; they can be left alone without pining for their owners, but
most nonetheless greet us affectionately when we get home.
In a word, they are convenient.

Even so, cats remain aloof and inscrutable. Dogs tend to be
open, honest and biddable. Cats, on the other hand, demand we accept
them on their terms but never quite reveal what those terms might be.

I’ve
studied cats for years and shared my home with quite a few, but I don’t
feel that this has taught me very much about what they are really like.
But science has begun to provide some answers, especially about their
relationship to humans. Why are cats so choosy about their objects of
affection? And what does it mean when they hold their tail straight up?
Read on.

The cat-human connection
Cats and humans go back a long way. DNA evidence identifies the pet cat’s ancestor as the Arabian wildcat Felis silvestris lybica and places its origins between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago in the Middle East.
It
is likely that the first people to tame wildcats were the Natu­fians,
who inhabited the Levant from about 13,000 to 10,000 years ago and are
widely regarded as the inventors of agriculture. As such, they were also
the first people to be bedeviled by a new pest: the grain-loving house
mouse. Wildcats probably moved in to exploit this new resource.
Realizing how useful this was — cats, after all, had no interest in
eating grain — people probably encouraged them to hang around.

These
were not pet cats as we know them. They would have been more like
today’s urban foxes, able to adapt to a human environment while
retaining their essential wildness.

Of course, the cat’s other
qualities probably did not go unnoticed. Their appealing features, soft
fur and ability to learn to become affectionate toward us led to their
adoption as pets. Yet cats still have three paws firmly planted in the
wild.

In contrast to almost every other domestic animal, cats
retain remarkable control over their own lives. Most go where they
please and when they please and, crucially, choose their own mates.
Unlike dogs, only a small minority of cats has ever been intentionally
bred by people. No one has bred cats to guard houses, herd livestock or
assist hunters.

Cats can be very affectionate, but they are
choosy. This stems from their evolutionary past: Wildcats are largely
solitary and regard most other cats as rivals. Domestic cats’ default
position on other cats remains one of suspicion, even fear.

However,
the demands of domestication — the need to live with other cats, and
then the forming of bonds with people — extended cats’ social
repertoire.

Social behavior probably started to evolve as soon as
cats began to congregate around granaries. Any cat that maintained its
antagonism toward other cats would have put itself at a disadvantage
when exploiting this resource.

Even today,
wherever there is a regular source of food, a colony of feral cats will
spring up, assuming local people allow it. Colonies can build up until
several hundred cats are living close to one another.
In these colonies, society tends to be based on cooperation
between genetically related females. Mothers often drive away their male
offspring after a few months to avoid inbreeding, leaving them to lead
solitary lives.

Where colonies consist of more than one family, these groups
compete with one another. Cats seem to be incapable of sustaining a
large number of friendly relationships or of forming alliances between
family groups in the way that primates do; negotiation skills this
sophisticated lie beyond their capabilities.

The switch to social
living required a quantum leap in communication as cats became
domesticated. For an animal as well-armored as a cat, a tiff might
escalate into a dangerous fight unless a system of signaling evolved
that allows cats to assess others’ moods and intentions. And this is
precisely what happened.

The straight-up tail
For domestic cats, my research has shown that the key signal is
the straight-up tail. In colonies, when two cats are working out whether
to approach each other, one usually raises its tail; if the other is
happy to approach, it raises its tail, too. The tail-up signal almost
certainly evolved during domestication, arising from a posture wildcat
kittens use when greeting their mothers. Adult wildcats do not raise
their tails to each other.

Once an exchange of tail-ups has been
established, one of two things occurs. Either the cats rub heads, flanks
and sometimes still-raised tails before separating, or they engage in
mutual grooming, which has profound social significance in many animals.
Both rubbing and grooming are probably a way of cementing an amicable
relationship.

The most important social skill a cat must learn in
order to become a pet is, of course, how to interact with people. Even
at the earliest stage of domestication, cats needed humans to protect
and feed them when mice were in short supply. The cats that thrived were
those that were able to reward people with their company. Yet cats are
not born attached to people. They are born with an inclination to trust
people only during a brief period when they are tiny.

Studies of
dogs in the 1950s established the notion of a “primary socialization
period,” when puppies are especially sensitive to learning how to
interact with people. For dogs, this is between 7 and 14 weeks of age.
The concept also applies to cats, but it starts earlier. A kitten that
is handled regularly between 4 and 8 weeks generally develops a powerful
attraction to people. One that does not meet a human until 10 weeks or
later is likely to fear people for the rest of its life.

Do cats
exposed early enough to humans have an emotional attachment to their
people, as dogs do? We know that they have the capacity to feel
affection for other cats, and so it is probable that their attachment to
their people is an emotional one.

Most owners
would say that their cat displays contentment by purring. Purring
clearly does occur when a cat is contented, but a purring cat also may
just be hungry, or mildly anxious. Some continue to purr even when their
body language indicates they are angry. Occasionally, cats have also
been heard purring when they were in distress or even during the moments
before death.

Purring, then, does not necessarily reveal a cat’s emotional
state. Instead, it seems to be what behavioral ecologists refer to as a
manipulative signal, conveying a general request: “Please settle down
next to me.”

However, other signals, may be more genuine displays of
affection. Relationships between adult cats seem to be sustained mainly
through mutual licking and rubbing. Many cats lick their owners
regularly, but scientists have not yet investigated whether this
represents affection. We know that cats that do not like each other
never groom each other.

Cat owners also engage in a tactile ritual
with their pets when they stroke them. Most owners stroke their cats
simply because it gives them pleasure and because the cat also seems to
enjoy it. But stroking may also have symbolic meaning for the cat. Most
prefer to be stroked on their heads, the area toward which cats direct
their grooming.

Many cats do not simply accept stroking passively;
they invite people to stroke them by jumping on their laps or rolling
over. They also indicate where they wish to be stroked by offering that
part of their body or shifting position. By accepting stroking, cats are
engaging in a social ritual that is reinforcing the bond with their
owner.

While touch is very important, the upright tail is probably
the clearest way cats show their affection for us. A cat approaching
its owner with a raised tail will often rub on its owner’s legs. The
form that the rub takes seems to vary from cat to cat: Some rub just
with the side of their head, others rub down their flank, some make
contact with their tail. Many walk past without making any contact or
perform their rubs on an object nearby.

Because many cats rub most
intensely when they are about to be fed, they have been accused of
showing nothing more than cupboard love. However, few cats confine their
rubbing to mealtimes, and when two cats rub, they exchange no
additional reward. So an exchange of rubs is a declaration of affection.

The sound of mewsic
Another way cats attract our attention, of course, is by meowing.
The meow is part of the cat’s natural repertoire, but they rarely use
it to communicate with each other. Feral cats are generally rather
silent. While all cats are apparently born knowing how to meow, each has
to learn how to use this most effectively.

Once cats have learned
that their owners respond to meows, many develop a range of sounds
that, by trial and error, they find are effective in specific
circumstances. In this way, many cats and their owners gradually develop
an individual “language” that they both understand but that is not
shared by other cats or owners.
So cats demonstrate great
flexibility in how they communicate with us, which rather contradicts
their reputation for aloofness. We could consider some of this behavior
manipulative, but only to the extent that two friends negotiate the
details of their relationship. The underlying emotion on both sides is
undoubtedly affection.

Bradshaw is the director of the Anthrozoology Institute at the
University of Bristol School of Clinical Veterinary Science in Britain.
He has studied cat behavior for more than 30 years. This article,
published in New Scientist, is based on Bradshaw’s new book, “Cat Sense” (Allen Lane/Basic Books).

Halloween is a holiday that is great fun. Through the years
more and more people have really become involved with extensive decorations in
and around the house. In addition, there is the candy and trick or treating.
Candy is around the house in bowls for the trick or treaters as well as the
candy collected by your own kids as they canvas the neighborhood with their own
trick or treating. If you have Halloween parties for kids or adults there will
be food and drink around as well. With all this food, decorations and
activities it can be a time of great danger for your pet. They will be
attracted by the tempting smells and may eat what they should not. They may be
intrigued by the shimmering, attractive decorations and begin to chew on
objects that could cause severe medical problems. In addition, it can also be a
stressful time for your pets due to the commotion involved with the holiday. During
the holiday you must take steps to be certain that your pets will be safe from
potential harm.

Trick or Treaters

It is always fun when trick or treaters come to the door; you
admire them in their costumes, and hand out candy. However, your pets do not
understand the significance of the holiday and recognize these people dressed
in strange costumes as intruders so they want to protect their home against
them. The constant ringing of the doorbell and groups of trick or treaters at
the door can be quite stressful for your pets. Strangers in strange costumes
can lead to a normal friendly pet becoming fearful or overly aggressive.
Crating a pet can sometimes lead to them developing diarrhea or injuring
themselves when they are confined in this fashion. It may not be a bad idea to
keep your pets in a separate, quiet room, away from the door when trick or
treaters arrive.

Halloween Treats/Candy

It is important for all family members to recognize that
these treats are for people only and are not to be shared with pets. Candy
wrappers and lollipop sticks can be hazardous if swallowed. Lollipop sticks and
other plastic parts are especially dangerous if ingested by a pet as they can cause
intestinal blockage and possibly rupture the intestines, which is
life-threatening.

Chocolate

Almost everyone knows that chocolate is toxic for pets. Theobromine,
a chemical found in chocolate is the cause of the poisoning, which can be
deadly in dogs, especially, and other pets. They actually have an allergic
reaction to the theobromine which can be quite severe. Some dogs may not have
as severe of a response but it is not worth taking a chance with your pets.
Chocolate should be avoided, do not think a little bit is not going to hurt! If
your pet is sensitive to the theobromine it does not take much to cause a toxic
reaction.

Depending on the amount ingested, chocolate (bakers, semi
sweet, milk and dark) can be potentially poisonous to many animals. Theobromine
levels are especially high in dark chocolates. In general, the less sweet the
chocolate, the more toxic it could be. In fact, unsweetened baking chocolate
contains almost seven times more theobromine than milk chocolate. Vomiting,
diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity and increased thirst, urination and heart
rate can be seen with the ingestion of as little as 1/4 ounce of baking
chocolate by a 10-pound dog. Halloween treats with chocolate are not
appropriate for pets.

Artificial Sweeteners

Other chemicals found in certain candies can also be toxic
to your pets. Xylitol, a sweetener found in some candies, mints, baked goods,
chocolate, and gum can be toxic to pets if taken in large amounts. Ingestion of
significant quantities can produce a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar,
resulting in depression, incoordination and seizures. Foods containing Xylitol
should be kept well out of reach of your pets. Do not take any chances with you
pets. As stated before, do not think that a little bit is not going to hurt.
You should have plenty of treats around the house that are appropriate for your
pets and use them instead of candies.

Holiday Food

Avoid the temptation to feed your pets leftovers from your
holiday meals. Your pet should be kept on its normal diet. Any change of diet,
even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe indigestion and diarrhea.
This is particularly true for older animals that have more delicate digestive
systems and nutritional requirements. Many of these foods are rich; especially those
that are high in fat, and can often cause severe gastrointestinal disturbances
in pets which could prove fatal. Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) is
a very common disease of dogs and is frequently caused by the eating of table
scraps. The pancreas plays a role in digestion of food but when an animal eats
a rich or fatty meal, the pancreas is 'overstimulated' and the organ
oversecretes enzymes leading to inflammation of the pancreas and surrounding
tissues. Signs of pancreatitis include vomiting and abdominal pain, sometimes
quite severe. The condition is very uncomfortable for the pet and sometimes can
be fatal. If you notice these type of symptoms seek veterinary care.

Although some people may think it is humorous, never offer
or allow your pets access to alcoholic beverages. Due to Halloween parties
there may be alcoholic drinks carelessly left in areas where pets may be able
to reach them. Place these unattended drinks in a safe location where pets
cannot reach them. If enough alcohol is ingested, the animal could become very
ill and weak. In severe cases they may go into a coma, possibly resulting in
death due to respiratory failure.

Halloween Decorations

Animals are attracted to unusual or shiny objects which
may be found around the house during Halloween used for decorations or
wrapping. Dogs and cats cannot see in color so it is the shiny, shimmering or
unusual appearance that attracts them. Birds can see in color, so color may
definitely be a source of attraction to them. Keep aluminum foil and cellophane
candy wrappers away from pets. Pets may swallow such material, leading to
gastrointestinal irritation, causing vomiting or may even pass into the
intestinal tract producing an intestinal blockage. Cats are quite often
attracted to ribbons, bows, strings and other decorations which they may chew,
swallow and develop intestinal blockage. In addition, twinkling lights or other
interesting electrical decorations may prove attractive to your pets. They may
chew on the cords which may lead to severe electrical shocks.

Keep the decorations out of the reach of your pets to
avoid potential danger. If you notice that your pet is very interested in the
decorations and may be chewing on them, be certain to relocate the objects in a
safe place where you pet cannot get to them.

Exercise caution with lit candles around pets, which could
easily become a fire hazard if knocked over by a wagging tail, a curious or
frightened cat. This includes the candle placed inside the carved pumpkin, as
the pumpkin could be toppled and the candle inside become a fire risk.

Plants

During Halloween decorative plants, such as pumpkins or
decorative foods, such as corn and gourds are placed around the home to provide
a festive holiday setting. These plants and foods though considered to be
relatively non-toxic, can potentially cause gastrointestinal upset and may even
result in intestinal blockage if large pieces are ingested.

Potpourri/Scented Candles

Liquid potpourri, commonly used to add pleasant scent to
the home during certain holidays, can be hazardous to pets. Potentially severe
damage to the mouth, skin and eyes could result from exposure to both heated
and cool liquid products. Birds are especially sensitive to fumes or airborne
toxins and caution must be exercised whenever you are using materials that
produce fumes or odors. Use them in areas with good ventilation and keep your
birds away from them. If you notice your bird is in respiratory distress, move
the bird into an area away from the fumes, get good clean air flow in the area
and seek veterinary assistance. Airborne toxins can be fatal to birds.

If you suspect your pet may have become exposed to a
potentially toxic product or substance, contact your local veterinarian, a
veterinary emergency clinic (if it is after hours for your regular
veterinarian) or the ASPCA
Animal Poison
Control Center
immediately for assistance.

Pet Costumes

It has been quite the trend to dress pets up in costumes
for Halloween. Although it can be quite entertaining to see pets in costumes,
potential dangers do exist so precautions should be taken. Make sure that when
the pet is dressed in a costume there is no interference with breathing, and
the ability to see, hear, or move. In addition, if you plan to take your pet
out trick or treating with you/your family, especially when it is becoming
dark, it would be a good idea to have reflective collars or other reflective
materials to ease visibility. (This goes for you and the kids as well)

Referenced from an informational flyer
provided by the Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, IL
and the CVMA.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Bird-lovers help keep parrot shelter open

By: Irv Leavitt | irvleavitt@pioneerlocal.com | @IrvLeavitt

A parrot shelter housed in a home in unincorporated Northbrook, threatened by a lack of legal underpinning
for its existence, seems on more solid footing after agreements made during a
Sept. 25 public hearing.

Richard and Karen Weiner, owners of Refuge for Saving the
Wildlife, on the 1600 block of Central Avenue, made several concessions at the
request of Kevin Freeman, acting chairman of the Cook County Zoning Board of
Appeals. The Board is expected to make a recommendation on their application
for a special use permit as early as its Oct. 28 meeting, with no
additional public comment.

The hearing was convened to air the Weiners’ application for
a county special use permit to allow keeping the birds, though some members
questioned whether the permit was actually necessary. No ordinance directly
addresses the Weiners’ operation.

The zoning board is a recommending body, and its decision
will be sent to the Cook County Board for a vote.

The application was made after complaints about the
home-based operation resulted in five citations, involving general storage of
garbage and having more than three pets in a home. Those citations were frozen
pending the application.

Richard Weiner, a Glencoe Public Safety lieutenant, agreed
to confine the number of birds in the house to 80, and reduce the number of
backyard cages from three to one. Only one outdoor cage holds an animal, a
red-tailed hawk.

They had already hidden trash receptacles within heavy
plastic enclosures.

They also agreed to park their cars inside their garage,
instead of on their driveway, in case volunteers or visitors needed some of the
six driveway spots.

The small Loop hearing room
overflowed with fans of the parrot rescue, but only one neighborhood resident,
a next-door neighbor, spoke in favor of the application.

Three residents living on the block opposed it.

The testimony from the opposing sides seemed to come from
two different worlds.

Those who have been won over by the Refuge were glowing in
their praise, while four neighbors said the refuge was ruining their
neighborhood.

Several experts, including appraiser Ronald Brandt, said
that there were no outward signs that more than 50 parrots were living inside
Weiner’s house.

“You couldn’t hear them outside the house unless you put
your ear up against (the door),” Brandt said.

“The home was typical of the neighborhood.”

Next-door neighbor Anne Pfeifer: “I don’t know how anyone
would know that there are birds in there. The house is immaculate inside, and
the outside is beautifully manicured.”

Attorney Susann MacLachan, called in by the Animal Legal
Defense Fund when word got out about citations, said the home, and its circa
2009 parrot shelter expansion, “was spotless ... and the birds were extremely
attached to Mrs. Weiner – who was there at the time – which is a very good
sign.”

MacLachan said once she left the house, there were no
audible bird sounds.

Local bird expert Pete Sakas, DVM, of the Niles Animal
Hospital, testified that there was no place else in northern Illinois so
capable of taking in unwanted parrots and similar birds as the Weiners’ refuge,
which has been operating for about 17 years. He said that the disease testing,
quarantines and adoption standards demanded by the operation were unmatched.

Weiner testified that he has numerous state and federal
licenses for the shelter work, including for administering drugs. He said that
when the house was expanded for the two parrot rooms, County inspectors were
aware of the usage, and of the presence of the parrots.

After more than an hour of such testimony by the Weiners and
their admirers, Ric Warchol, who lives two doors down, told the panel that
“what they’re doing is wonderful, but it doesn’t belong in a residential
neighborhood.”

He said the shelter attracted too much traffic and parking,
and he could hear the birds. He said the shelter should be closed down.

He handed in 60 petition signatures against the Weiners’
application, but the way he got them was questioned by Freeman and fellow Board
member Darryl Holmes.

Their problem with Warchol were the letters he sent
throughout the neighborhood – marked in capital letters, “Urgent – save your
homes (sic) value” – which maintained that the Weiners were seeking a zoning
change.

Such a change would impact the entire neighborhood, they
said, unlike a special use, which just affects their home as long as they own
it.

“When you say ‘rezone,’ that means something much more
permanent,” Freeman said.

“Some people who are here may have been misled if they read
that.”

Warchol – owner or part-owner of Judy’s Mailing Service in Northbrook and Jimmy’s Charhouse in Riverwoods – several
times said that he never complained about the traffic or the (now-removed)
Dumpster until recently, because until the last year or so, there had “only
been about 10 birds.”

But Freeman asked for the concessions, as he heard a handful
of neighbors complain.

The traffic was so disturbing, Margaret Osadzinski said,
“That it feels like a garage sale every week.”

She added, “Strangers around our house make me
uncomfortable.”

Warchol said that the Weiners should move the shelter to a
commercial area, but Richard Weiner said that would cost $3,700 per month. He
said he’d already spent $33,000 unexpectedly to respond to complaints Warchol
made about his shelter.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

From the American Animal Hospital Association

5 Tips to De-stressing Your Cat's Vet Visit

“Chloe, why do you always hide under the part of the
bed I can’t reach? I’ll have to use the broom to get you out and into
that darn carrier. We have to be at the veterinarian’s office in 20 minutes!”

You’re not alone if you can identify with the above scenario. Getting
your cat to the veterinarian every year (better yet, every six months)
is important, even if your cat seems perfectly fine. But doing so can be
a challenge. You might feel like the harder you try to get your cat
into the carrier or the car, the more resistant your cat gets and the
more frustrated you become. Some cat owners might even be so discouraged
that they get to the point of avoiding the veterinary practice
altogether, which means their cats don’t get the preventive care they
need and deserve.

To keep your cat healthy by heading to the veterinarian, you need ways
to make the trips less stressful. What can you do? The first step: Think
like your cat. Consider what your cat must be feeling after being put
into the carrier and then the car. After a stop-and-go trip, your cat
arrives at a place where there are lots of strange noises and smells of
unfamiliar animals. That’s scary stuff for most cats, especially those
that aren’t used to traveling.

While it’s completely normal for cats to translate this fear into biting
or scratching, especially when no escape route is available, no
one—cats included—wants this kind of behavior to happen. What’s more,
when a cat’s arousal escalates to this level, some people think the cat
is mean. In reality, there is no such thing as a mean cat—only one
that’s scared. So if your cat acts afraid of the carrier, the car, and,
hence, the veterinarian, here are some tips to ease that fear—and your
frustration.

1. Make the transport carrier your cat’s home away from home.
Use your cat’s carrier as a comfortable resting, feeding, and play
location. To do this, keep the carrier out and accessible at all times,
not just when you’re getting ready to take your cat somewhere. Line it
with a soft blanket, lay favorite toys inside, and drop in treats every
now and then. If your cat still doesn’t want to get into its carrier,
consider getting a different carrier. It’s best to use a top-loading
carrier with a top portion that’s easily removed. This feature lets
veterinarians allow cats to stay in the bottom portion of the carrier
during most of the visit, which makes cats feel more secure.

2. Train your cat to be a savvy traveler.
Get your cat used to riding in the car, beginning when it’s young for
best results. Start by getting your cat into its carrier and carrying it
around your house. Then graduate to getting your cat into its carrier
and taking short drives around the block. Eventually build up to making a
fun trip to the veterinarian for a meet-and-greet play session with no
exam. After all these outings—even if you don’t leave your house—give
your cat a fun reward, like a treat. Before heading to a veterinary
appointment, give yourself plenty of time to get the cat into the
carrier. And if you have time to spare, that’s all the better: Letting
your cat wait in the carrier before leaving can ease its stress.

3. Let your cat play peek-a-boo.
Create a hiding place for your cat in the carrier by placing a towel or
blanket from your home inside. Also, drape a towel or blanket over the
outside of part of the carrier. Cats feel more secure when they have a
place to hide, and the simple presence of a familiar blanket or towel
may comfort your cat during your visit to the veterinary office.

4. Travel on an empty stomach.
Pets often get motion sickness. If you avoid feeding your cat before
traveling, you’ll decrease the chance that your cat will get carsick.
Plus, if your cat is a little bit hungry when it arrives at the
veterinary clinic, it might be more willing to partake in the treats the
veterinarian has to offer. This could make the visit more pleasant for
your cat, for you, and for your veterinarian.

5. Talk to your veterinarian.
Ask your veterinarian how he or she handles fearful cats. Perhaps
there’s someone at the practice who’s particularly tuned in to cats and
can work patiently with yours. Keeping the cat in the exam room instead
of taking it to the back might prevent further arousal, and many
veterinarians and technicians can collect blood and urine samples right
in the exam room.

Sometimes veterinarians will recommend giving your cat medications for
motion sickness and anxiety before heading to the veterinary office.
It’s usually best to avoid giving fearful cats sedatives, because they
don’t calm fear but rather dull a cat’s ability to respond. What’s more,
the sedative can make it difficult for your veterinarian to gain
accurate information regarding your cat’s health. If your cat is
extremely fearful, it may be safest and in your cat’s best interest for
the veterinarian to administer an anti-anxiety or short-acting
anesthetic so the doctor can perform a thorough examination and collect
needed samples like urine and blood.

Communicate with your veterinarian to decide together the best way to
ease your cat’s fears and provide the care it needs. After all, calming
scaredy cats is the best way to keep them healthy, which keeps everyone
happy.

Canine Calming
Fear and anxiety aren’t reserved for cats; dogs also can get nervous
about visiting the veterinarian. Here are a few tips to help prepare
your pooch for a fun trip to the doctor.

Keep the feline tips in mind.
Many of the same strategies that work with cats also help dogs.
Specifically, provide your dog with a crate that it can know and love,
and practice traveling.

Reward with food. Giving your dog special
treats is a great way to condition desirable behaviors. If you want your
dog to respond well to new places, start by teaching basic commands and
reward your dog with a treat when he obeys them. Graduate to giving the
commands as you slowly add in distractions, such as taking your dog to
the park to encounter squirrels, other dogs, and kids playing.

Tell the doctor. If your dog is shy or fearful,
let the veterinary office know before your visit. You may be able to
choose an appointment time when there will be few other dogs and cats in
the waiting room, and the staff may be able to provide a more calm
place for you to wait before your dog’s examination.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Dr. Sakas will be on the nationally broadcast radio show, "On Call" hosted by Wendy
Wiese, on Relevant Radio, Monday, October 7th from 1-2 PM CST. It can be
heard on 950 AM, 930 AM, 1270 AM or accessed through your computer at
www.relevantradio.com and listened to online. It is a call in show and
Dr. Sakas has been a regular guest on the show. Their phone number
for call ins is 1-877-766-3777.

Future dates have been set
up....all between 1-2 CST. The remaining upcoming date for this year is Tuesday November 26th. We will keep providing updates.

If you
cannot listen to it live, go to the "On Call" portion
of the Relevant Radio website at www.relevantradio.com, where you can
hear this and past shows (7/9/13 and 9/21/13) in the archived shows
section (where they are kept for a few months).

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

10 Things You Should Know Before Getting a Dog

Have you been dreaming of getting a dog ever since you saw the reruns of the television classic Lassie as
a kid? Or maybe you were fortunate enough to watch the original series.
While your dog might not be able to save you week after week from a
burning building, a runaway freight train, or the bottom of a well (and
in the time it takes to finish a 30-minute episode, too), owning a dog
can be a wonderful experience.

Here are 10 things you should know and consider before choosing your canine friend.

1. Dogs take up a lot of time and energy. Yes, they are rewarding.
But if you live alone and work twenty hours a day, then perhaps a dog
is not the best choice for you. Hey, there are always those super-cool
robot dogs.

2. If you are not often at home, and you really want a dog, you
probably should invest in a dog walker. You'd probably be wise to
choose a dog breed that isn't especially needy, too. Check out PetMD's Breedopedia to select from a wide variety of breeds.

3. Any dog you get should be suitable to not only your lifestyle,
but your surroundings. If you live in a shoebox apartment, then a large
dog is not a good choice. You don’t want your dog to develop health
issues, be bored, or destroy things. Large dogs really belong in big
places with lots of outdoor space.

4. Consider which breeds are suitable for your region's climate,
especially if you have a yard and want to keep it as an outside dog.

5. Puppies require the most work when it comes to house training. If you: (a) don’t want your things chewed up, or (b) don’t have the time or money to train the puppy, consider adopting an already housebroken, adult dog.

6. Make sure you have lots of chew toys available for your puppy and
keep all expensive things (like shoes and clothes) out of its reach;
the same goes for chemicals and medicines. Puppies like to investigate
and try everything, so make sure there is nothing dangerous around for
them to sample.

7. Get your dog vaccinated and spayed or neutered as soon as
possible. Oh, and take your dog to the vet for its routine checkups.
Your dog will thank you for it and live a much better (and longer)
life.

8. Get a proper leash and harness for your dog. A leash too small or
too large may hurt it inadvertently during its walking routine, or,
worse yet, allow it to hurt others or get loose and run away.

9. Health insurance is a must. Consult your veterinarian as to your best options.

10. Regardless of the dog breed you choose, have fun! They say there is no better friend than a dog. We have to agree.

Commit to Your Pet’s Health During National Pet Wellness Month

AMY JO HAND
More
than likely you visit the doctor and/or dentist at least once a year.
Are you doing the same for your pet? Because cats and dogs age quicker
than us, taking them to the veterinary hospital once a year is like you
going once in five to seven years!

October is National Pet Wellness Month (NPWM); celebrate by
committing to your furry friends’ health with annual wellness exams. The
American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends annual wellness
exams at a minimum, and as your pet gets older, AAHA suggests that the
frequency of visits should be determined on an individual basis, taking
into account the pet’s age, species, breed and environment. Talk to your
veterinarian about what is right for you and your pet.

So, why take your pet in for a checkup at least once a year; “don’t
fix it if it ain’t broke,” right? Wrong. It’s all about prevention! Why
do you take your car in every 3,000 miles for an oil change, get a
physical exam each year at your own doctor’s office or visit the dentist
to have your teeth cleaned every six months? You do it to check on your
overall health, catch issues before they become problems and prevent
future catastrophes. Your pet shouldn’t be any different.

Dr. Jeff Chalkley of Westbury Animal Hospital in Houston, TX, shares
Jonathan’s story as an example of just how important regular wellness
checks can be.

Jonathan, an eight-year-old male, neutered Collie mix came in to
Westbury Animal Hospital for a routine senior checkup and blood work.
During the exam, the owner happened to mention that Jonathan had not
been eating his breakfast very well for the past couple of days but
would eat dinner very well. When I examined him, Jonathan expressed pain
in his abdomen and had mild tartar on his teeth; otherwise, everything
was normal. The blood work showed a few things that made me want to test
further.

Further tests showed that Jonathan had Biliary Mucoecele, which
is very much like a gallbladder stone in humans. This can cause the
gallbladder to fill up with bile, causing severe pain and possible liver
damage. This type of problem requires surgery within a few days;
otherwise, there can be irreversible liver damage. Jonathan went home
that day with medications and came back the following day to have
surgery.

Jonathan was able to return home after three days in critical
care. The time from the initial appointment to the surgery time was 48
hours. Jonathan had no other symptoms of disease other than not eating
his meals. If his owner had not come in for Jonathan’s senior exam, too
much time would have passed and the surgery would have been impossible.
If the gallbladder had ruptured or the liver had undergone further
damage for much longer, Jonathan may not have recovered so well after
surgery.

When you go in with your pet for a wellness visit, your veterinarian
will request a complete history of your pet’s health. Don’t forget to
mention any unusual behavior that you have noticed in your pet,
including:

Coughing

Diarrhea

Eating more or less than usual

Excessive drinking of water, panting, scratching or urination

Vomiting

Weight gain or weight loss

Your veterinarian will also want to know about your pet’s daily
behavior, including his diet, how much water he drinks and his exercise
routine. Your veterinarian may ask:

Does your pet have trouble getting up in the morning?

Does your pet show signs of weakness or unbalance?

Does your pet show an unwillingness to exercise?

Depending on where you live, your pet’s lifestyle and age and other
factors, your veterinarian may also ask about your pet’s exposure to
fleas, ticks, heartworms and intestinal parasites. He or she will
develop an individualized treatment and/or preventive plan to address
these issues.

During a wellness exam, your pet will get a complete “tune-up,” just
like you would take your car or bike in for, to be examined from head to
toe:

Vital statistics

Ears

Eyes

Mouth

Heart and lungs

Reproductive and other organs

Skin

Joints and muscles

Vaccinations

When is the last time you took the four-legged friends in for a checkup? Celebrate NPWM and schedule an exam today!